ISIKHUNGO semfundo ePhakeme, iDurban University of Technology (DUT), sikhombisile ukuthi kungani saziwa njengesikhungo sobuchwepheshe njengoba sethule isikebhe sokuqala esihamba ngogesi welanga e-Afrika yonkana.
Lesi sikebhe esibizwa ngeSiyahamba Solar Boat sizongenela umncintiswano omkhulukazi wezikebhe ozoba se-Europe ngoJulayi, obizwa ngeMonaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC).
NgoLwesihlanu, izikhulu zaseDUT zisebenzisana ne-Energy and Water Sector Education Training Authority (EWSETA), zethule ngokusemthethweni iSiyahamba Solar Boat ePoint Yatch Club, eThekwini.
Kuvele ukuthi isikebhe saseDUT sakhethwa ukuba singenele iMEBC kwimingenelo ewu-120 eyayifakiwe. Sizoncintisana nezinye izikebhe eziwu-15 ezivela emazweni ahlukene.
Isikebhe sakhiwe yizitshudeni nabasebenzi beDUT Energy Technology Station eyaziwa ngokuthi yiKZN Industrial Energy Efficient Training Resource Centre (IEETR).
UMqondisi wezokuXhumana eDUT, uMnuz Alan Khan uthe iDUT yiyona yodwa inyuvesi eya kwiMEBC, e-Afrika yonkana.
Uthe iSiyahamba bayiqambe kanjena ngoba behlonipha uKaputeni wamaBhokobhoko uSiya Kolisi emuva kokuwina indebe yomhlaba yebhola lombhoxo ngo-2019.
Umsebenzi wokwakha iSiyahamba waqala ngo-2018.
USolwazi Fulufhelo Nemavhola oyiPhini likaVice Chancellor weResearch, Innovation and Engagement eDUT, uchaze iSiyahamba njengophawu oluhle olukhombisa imisebenzi eyenziwa yile nyuvesi.
“ISiyamba iwubufakazi bokuthi iDUT ikhiqiza izitshudeni ezishintsha impilo yabantu. Asiqhubeke nokuza nemikhiqizo emisha ezoletha ushintsho,” kusho uNemavhola.
USolwazi Ian Lazarus ohola ithimba leSiyahamba uthe bahlale beza nemikhiqizo ezoshintsha impilo yabantu eDUT kanti kade baziqala izinhlelo zokuya eMonaco.
Uveze ukuthi umshayeli wesikebhe uMnuz Steve Ellis unolwazi olunzulu ngokusebenza kwezikebhe ngakho akangabazi ukuthi uzonqoba kwiMEBC.
“ISiyahamba yisikebhe esisizwa wugesi welanga ukuhamba. Lokhu kuzosisiza ukudlulisa umyalezo wokuthi akuvikelwe ulwandle nemvelo ngokusebenzisa obunye ubuchwepheshe.
“Izosisiza njengoba simatasa nokuletha ezokuthutha ezingambi eqolo futhi ezivikela imvelo. Kuzosisiza ukukhombisa abasemkhakheni wezikebhe ukuthi uyakwazi ukusebenzisa izindlela ezingayilimazi imvelo ukusebenzisa umkhumbi,” kusho uLazarus.
UNksz Candice Moodley we-EWSETA uthe ngeke bayeke ukweseka izinhlelo ezizoguqula impilo yabantu ngokuletha ubuchwepheshe obungayilimazi imvelo.
Udalule ukuthi izinhlelo zabo zike zaphazamiseka ngesikhathi seCovid-19 kodwa babuye baqhubeka emuva kwayo.